County Facts

Fond du Lac County is a political subdivision of the state of Wisconsin and is comprised of 21 towns; nine villages; two cities; and the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th wards of the city of Waupun. An 25-member board of supervisors represents the 25 supervisory districts in the county and establishes policies for operation of the county. These policies are administered and implemented by an elected county executive.

Incorporated on April 1, 1839, Fond du Lac County currently has a population of approximately 101,984. For 2013, the total property valuation was $6,652,706,000. The total land area is 725 square miles, with 207 center line miles of state highway and 384 miles of county highway.

There are approximately 1,400 farms (2012 Ag Census), with nearly 190,360 cropped acres (USDA NASS WI Agriculture Statistics, 2016-2017). The average farm size is about 226 acres. Among Wisconsin counties, Fond du Lac ranks first for total milk production and third for the number of dairy cows (2017 Wisconsin Ag Statistics Service). The county also ranks high as a leading producer of corn for grain, soybeans and wheat. Forage production is important to fuel the large dairy industry, so it's not surprising that Fond du Lac County is a leading producer of both corn silage and alfalfa. Commercial vegetable production is also an important economic driver. County farmers produce an abundance of sweet corn, peas and green beans for commercial canning and freezing. Fond du Lac County ranks second among Wisconsin counties for cash receipts from farm marketings with $412 million worth of products sold (2012 Census of Ag).

With its landscape of rolling countryside, lush forests and sparkling lakeshores, Fond du Lac County offers endless opportunities for the year-round outdoor enthusiast. The city of Fond du Lac is situated on the shores of Lake Winnebago, which at 220 square miles is Wisconsin's largest inland lake.

The county park system includes 14 county parks and public hunting ground that together total more than 953 acres. The park system includes pristine wetlands, native prairie, woodlots, spring brooks and lakeshore. Park visitors can enjoy boating with overnight docking, windsurfing, swimming, camping, fishing, picnicking, hiking and mountain biking. The county recreation trail system includes six year-round multiple-purpose recreation trails, providing more than 50 miles of hiking, running, cross-country skiing and bicycling opportunities. Additionally, 297 miles of state-funded snowmobile trails open each winter for local and long distance snowmobiling.

Fond du Lac County owns and operates Rolling Meadows Golf Course, a 27-hole golf course located on the southwest side of the city of Fond du Lac. The course features five sets of regular tees and two sets of family tees to accommodate all skill levels. The course features a complete short game practice area, driving range and putting green. PGA professionals provide group and individual lessons and professional club fitting for all major club manufacturers. Shop the fully stocked golf shop or enjoy a meal at the 28th Hole Bar and Grill. The course hosts numerous outings and non-golf events each year.

Fond du Lac County is located within an hour's drive of the major cities of Madison, Milwaukee and Green Bay and is less than a three-hour drive from Chicago. Additional tourist and attraction information is available from the Fond du Lac Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (800-937-9123 or www.fdl.com).

Fond du Lac County prides itself on the quality of its educational structure. Wisconsin traditionally ranks at the top of ACT scores for the United States, and several of Fond du Lac school districts rank above average within the state. In fact, the Fond du Lac Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is consistently deemed to be among the top 25 public school districts in the nation. Higher education opportunities abound in Fond du Lac County, with opportunities at the University of Wisconsin-Fond du Lac, Marian University, Ripon College and Moraine Park Technical College. These schools of higher education are providing talented human capital for existing and new companies.

Historically named one of the top 20 safest metropolitan areas in the nation, Fond du Lac County is home to many top USA companies. These include Mercury Marine, Fives Giddings & Lewis, J.F. Ahern, Brenner Tank, Mid-States Aluminum, J.M. Smucker Company and Alliance Laundry Systems. Fond du Lac County offers 10 public and private business and industrial parks, representing a variety of options for new and expanding businesses.

Envision Greater Fond du Lac (920-921-9500) will work in partnership with entities interested in pursuing opportunities in Fond du Lac County, whether it be an individual just thinking about starting a business or a large corporation looking for a great Midwest location. Envision Greater Fond du Lac provides solutions-oriented services to clients, with an emphasis on innovative thinking. Envision Greater Fond du Lac also offers a business accelerator that includes high-tech opportunities, such as co-working and meeting space featuring wireless internet, video conferencing, and an interactive whiteboard.